Kalanchoe synsepala

Kalanchoe synsepala

Kalanchoe - which belong to the broader Crassulaceae family of plants - are among my favourite succulent plants and offer a huge diversity of shapes and sizes and are low-maintenance, drought-resistant specimens. Kalanchoe synsepala (ht 50cm), from Madagascar, has enormous fleshy leaves with a red margin. It has posies of very pale pink flowers in spring. It produces baby plants at the ends of long stems, which eventually and bend down to the ground and take root, giving rise to its common name of walking kalanchoe. If the plant is grown in a pot, these baby plants trail attractively over the containers edge. One form - 'dissecta' - has deeply cut leaves. Kalanchoe can be grown in sun or bright shade - some experts consider the latter to be the best position for them.